Drove to Frisco CO, set up at a trailhead parking lot with a table, a tent, a piece of plexi glass, and snow boots. It was snowing but not really too cold. I honestly didn't think I had captured anything worth keeping while in the field. But then I got back to the the computer and wow! I had a couple images that popped after a little adjusting with white and black balance. Then I adjusted levels a bit, and tone curve a bit, cropped and submitted.

I learned a great deal during this challenge about macro photography. Thank you all for the great comments and the votes! I'm thrilled with this result! Talk about a exciting week! I took a half day off work just to drive to the mountains to see what I could come up with. The cold feet were worth it! (: Thanks everyone!

You created a wonderful mini-tute with your explanation of how you set this up. Setting up an outdoor Winter-Studio of sorts was brilliant! You deserved the "Blue" for more than just the image (which is spectacular, btw.) Congratulations.

annig beat me to the Bentley Link, I know that some of the Vermonters must have pictures of the Old Gris Mill at Jericho, VT....I'm sure I've see some...it's a great place to visit and see the photographic history of snowflakes. Wonderful capture...now I know it can be done with today's equipment....

Each is marvelously unique in structure, so delicate and fragile that a single warm breath will destroy them forever yet you have captured their supreme beauty in a wonderful jumble of intertwining crystalline perfection. You have my highest praises for the complexity of this photograph.